Poems

Les Murray: Two Poems

Les Murray

Galway Effigy Polished shoulders continue round the bowl to support the neck and the upright face surprised yet sardonic in its shaven skin. The diminished arms narrow in and vanish under coloured sleeves and there are no legs in the cluttered dish. Only the limp grey hair above maintains overshadowed vision and signs of smart disease. Les Murray Steam Bath World North, towards Polaris primates born near zero soak in volcanic water glass melting in their fur, apes of Hokkaido and red-faced humans tip buckets on scorching rock under hides or timber and burst…